The Holocaust (Deck 2)

When was the Wannsee Conference held?

20 January 1942.

Who convened the Wannsee Conference?

Reinhard Heydrich.

Was Hitler present at the Wannsee Conference?

No. The meeting was convened by Heydrich to coordinate implementation of the Final Solution.

What was the figure of 11 million Jews discussed at Wannsee?

Heydrich's estimate of the Jewish population targeted across Europe, including Jews in Britain and neutral countries.

What was the Final Solution?

The Nazi plan to systematically murder Europe's Jewish population.

What did the Nazis mean by 'destruction through work'?

Forced labour under conditions that were intended to exploit and often kill prisoners.

What did Nazi authorities mean by 'special treatment' in this context?

A euphemism for murder.

How did Nazi authorities classify Jewish ancestry in their later plans, according to the notes?

A Jewish parent could result in classification as Jewish, while one Jewish grandparent could result in classification as German under the criteria described in the notes.

How many calories per day were allocated to people in the Warsaw Ghetto, according to the notes?

Approximately 1,000 calories, compared with roughly 2,400 needed to maintain weight.

How did the SS restrict food access in the Warsaw Ghetto?

They punished food smuggling, including through public shootings.

How were Jews deceived before deportation?

Nazi authorities used false stories about 'resettlement' to conceal the purpose of deportations.

What were conditions like in deportation cattle cars?

Approximately 80–100 or more people were crowded into carriages with almost no food, water or ventilation.

What happened to many new arrivals at Auschwitz?

They underwent selection; mothers with children, older people and the sick were often sent directly to the gas chambers.

What was Zyklon B?

A cyanide-based pesticide used by the Nazis to murder people in gas chambers.

Who were the Sonderkommando?

Prisoners forced to work in the killing process, including handling victims' bodies and removing valuables.